ABSTRACT

 Long term and continuous use of soil for crop production has implication on soil physical and microbial properties and as such there is need to examine ways of protecting the condition of the soil for productive use. Therefore, this study examined the effects of different animal manures on soil physical and microbial properties with the aim of recommending their use in soil management and crop production. The experiment was carried out at research farm of agricultural and bio resources engineering department, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike. Poultry manure and pig manure was mixed with five kilograms of soil and moistened with water until all the pore spaces were filled. Also there was a control experiment where no manure was applied. The experiment was arranged in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replicates in the screen house. Soil samples were collected weekly after treatment application (Poultry manure and pig manure and control) beginning from the first week to third week for physical analysis. Result from this study indicates that application of differert animal wastes increased certain productivity indicators through positive effect on soil physical and biological properties. Comparatively, pig manure improved soil productivity and the microbial activity of the soil more than poultry' manure. The decreasing order of general performance' of these animal wastes in increasing soil physical properties of the experimental soil moisture content is Pig manure (PG) (21.6)> Poultry manure (PM) (20.3)> Control (16.9).